There's a reason Boston's players, especially Kevin Garnett, took the trade of Kendrick Perkins so hard. Perkins isn't nearly as talented as Jeff Green, the player they acquired from Oklahoma City, but he embodied the physicality and unselfishness of the Eastern Conference leaders. The Celtics were bigger and tougher than every other team in the league. Now they're not.

'Melo got exactly what he wanted all along — a trade to his dream team, the Knicks, not to mention a max contract extension and a reality show for his wife. He's the big winner this week. What remains to be seen is whether he can turn the Knicks, who gutted their roster to get him, into a big winner on the court.

The Jazz started the month with one of the top three coaches and top three point guards in the NBA. Now they have neither. Jerry Sloan (right) called it quits a few weeks ago and Deron Williams (left) was dealt to New Jersey because Utah management feared he'd leave as a free agent in 2012. Unless teenage power forward Derrick Favors develops into a star, Jazz fans spoiled by decades of excellence can look forward to years of mediocrity.

The Nets and their Russian billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, looked like chumps after striking out in free agency last summer and losing out on Carmelo Anthony to the rival Knicks. But Wednesday's shocking deal for Deron Williams gave them the star they've sought and the credibility to chase more talent down the road. Depending, of course, on whether they can convince Willams to stick around in New Jersey.

Poor guy. In his first season with the Knicks, Felton was thriving in Mike D'Antoni's system, running the pick-and-roll with Amar'e Stoudemire. Now he's heading to Denver, where he'll have to fight for playing time with another former Tar Heel point guard, Ty Lawson.

At the age of 32, Mike Bibby had become a huge liability as Atlanta's starting point guard. Unable to penetrate or defend, he will be better suited as John Wall's backup and shot doctor in Washington. In return, the Hawks get an upgrade in Kirk Hinrich, an unspectacular but solid all-around combo guard who can at least run and play pressure defense like most of his new teammates.

The Grizzlies are already giving up on the No. 2 pick of last year's draft, 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet, who they sent to the size-starved Rockets for veteran Shane Battier. The move makes Memphis better in the short term but is a sad acknowledgement of their drafting strategy. They also nearly dealt another recent lottery pick, O.J. Mayo, to the Pacers before reportedly getting cold feet.

The Hornets lost an extraneous shooting guard in Marcus Thornton and got a versatile frontcourt player they badly need in Carl Landry from the Kings. Shrewd moves like this might convince Chris Paul (pictured) to stay in New Orleans.

Just when Davis seemed re-energized as Blake Griffin's designated alley-ooper with the Clippers, he leaves Los Angeles — his hometown — for Cleveland in a point-guard swap for Mo Williams. How motivated will Davis be with the worst team in the NBA throwing lobs to J.J. Hickson? On the bright side, at least Clippers owner Donald Sterling won't be booing him anymore.

Jeff Green was never really part of a Big Three in OKC, where Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant (pictured) are the two shining stars. So by sending Green to Boston for Kendrick Perkins, the Thunder got what they really need — a defensive-minded center who can set punishing screens for Durant all night long. By also acquiring center Nazr Mohammed and guard Nate Robinson, Oklahoma City added three players who give the Lakers trouble and stamped itself as a serious contender in the West.

The West won the All-Star Game last Sunday but two of those Western stars — Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams — were shipped to Eastern clubs this week. Along with Amar'e Stoudemire's summer move from Phoenix to New York, the league's balance of power is shifting east. What's next? Kobe Bryant going to the Wizards?

They were going to lose Carmelo Anthony no matter what. So under the circumstances, they did as well as possible by getting four young rotation players (from left, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler) from the Knicks. Denver's front office, ripped for its wheelings and no-dealings with the Nets, now looks smart in extracting a high price from New York. The Nuggets aren't a better team without 'Melo, but at least they won't be like the Cavs and Raptors, who lost their stars for nothing last summer.

By giving their best player, Gerald Wallace, to the Trail Blazers for Joel Przybilla and a pair of first-round picks, the Bobcats continued their talent drain. Since making the playoffs for the first time last year, Charlotte has now lost three starters, including point guard Raymond Felton (free agency) and center Tyson Chandler (trade). All the 'Cats have to show for it is draft picks and cap space, which means their next playoff berth may be a long way off.

In a perfect world, every trade would benefit each team and player involved. But as we all know, the NBA world doesn't work that way. In the flurry of deals consummated before Thursday afternoon's deadline, there were some who made out much better than others. John Galinsky sorts out the winners and losers.

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